Here are the key events on day 1,241 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
How things stand on Saturday, July 19:
Fighting
- On Friday, Russian drones and glide bombs killed several people in Ukraine, including a 52-year-old train driver in the Dnipropetrovsk region, a 66-year-old woman killed in her home in Kostiantynivka, and a 64-year-old man killed in a glide bomb attack on a building site in the Zaporizhia region.
- Russian forces launched a mass drone attack on the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa, setting fire to at least one multistory apartment building, the city’s mayor, Gennadiy Trukhanov, reported early Saturday. Dozens of drones targeted the city in the early hours of the morning.
- Russian air defenses intercepted or destroyed 10 Ukrainian drones headed for Moscow overnight on Friday, the city’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, stated.
- Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskii, said his forces are standing firm in their defense of the city of Pokrovsk, a strategic location in eastern Donetsk that has faced months of Russian attacks, and Novopavlivka in the Zaporizhia region.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the troops defending Pokrovsk and said that Russian forces trying to advance into Ukrainian cities and villages would not stand a chance.
- In response to ongoing Ukrainian attacks, authorities in Russian-controlled Crimea have implemented a media blackout, banning the publication of content that might reveal the location of Russian forces or details of Ukrainian attacks.
Military aid
- Australia’s government announced the delivery of M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as part of a 245 million Australian dollar ($160m) package aimed at helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia.
- The United States accelerated the delivery of Patriot air defense systems to Germany, which will allow Germany to send two of their Patriot batteries to Ukraine.
- Ukrainian and U.S. leaders are in discussions on a deal that would involve U.S. investment in Kyiv’s domestic drone production, with the U.S. set to purchase a large batch of Ukrainian drones.
- President Zelenskyy discussed missile supplies and funding for interceptor drones with French President Emmanuel Macron, emphasizing their agreement on pilot training for Mirage jets.
Sanctions
- The European Union approved its 18th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting its oil and energy industry, in response to its ongoing war in Ukraine.
- The United Kingdom sanctioned 18 officers working for Russian military intelligence and three units over their involvement in a 2022 bomb attack on a theatre in southern Ukraine.
- President Zelenskyy thanked the EU for the new sanctions and called for further measures against Russia in response to the increasing brutality of attacks on Ukrainian cities.
- Despite the sanctions, European ship operators are expected to continue shipping approved Russian oil exports, and there are concerns that WhatsApp may be blocked in Russia amidst regulatory threats.
Politics and diplomacy
- Kremlin believes that the tougher stance adopted by Donald Trump doesn’t indicate the end of US-Russia talks on improving relations.
- Kremlin agreed with Zelenskyy’s call for more momentum in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
- Zelenskyy appointed former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov as the secretary of the country’s National Security and Defence Council following a government reshuffle.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Ukraine with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and expressed Russia’s commitment to finding a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed skepticism about Ukraine joining the EU by 2034, citing the impact on the EU’s medium-term financial plans.
- Russian courts sentenced 135 people for participating in an anti-Israel protest in October 2023.
Regional security
- Russia responded with dismay to remarks from a top US general about NATO’s capability to quickly capture Kaliningrad, a Russian Baltic exclave.
- According to a survey, many Italians believe the country will be directly involved in a war within five years, though only a minority of those of fighting age would be willing to take up arms.
- The survey by the Centre for Social Investment Studies revealed a trend of pacifism and avoidance among Italians aged between 18 and 45, with many voicing opposition to conscription or preferring to hire foreign mercenaries.
